Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks Betting Preview

Matching up for the final time this year, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Anaheim Ducks take the ice at the Honda Center in an East-West tilt. This one gets started at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2 and it’s being shown live on Sportsnet 360.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks Odds

Columbus is 32-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 64 regular season outings, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team this season, the Jackets are 13-19 SU.

Columbus has converted on just 15.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off only 76.1 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Jackets have been whistled for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 3.0 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (27-25-5) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this season. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to rest him, however, Columbus might go with Joonas Korpisalo (5-8), who has a .899 save percentage and 3.30 goals against average this year.

Artemi Panarin and Thomas Vanek will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin (53 points) has tallied 18 goals and 35 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 10 different games. Vanek has 17 goals and 24 assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 29 games).

Anaheim is 31-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 40 of its contests have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 16-14 SU as the home team.

The Ducks have converted on just 17.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all opponent power plays.

Ducks players have been sent to the penalty box 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

John Gibson (29.3 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 23 wins, 23 losses, and seven overtime losses to his name and has maintained a 2.51 goals against average and a .925 save percentage this season.

Rickard Rakell (25 goals, 26 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions

Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

Three of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 4-7 overall in shootouts this year.

The total has gone under in four of Anaheim’s last five outings.

The Blue Jackets have averaged the league’s fourth-most shots on goal (34.4) while Anaheim has attempted just the 25th-most (30.3).

The Ducks this season have recorded the fourth-most hits per game (24.4), but that number has climbed to 28.4 over their last five home outings.